I am not a delicate flower, easily crushed by the weight of the world. I am not made of fragile things, easily shattered by the touch of a careless hand. I will not be confined to the expectations of others, forced to conform to their ideals of femininity.

I will not be adorned with daisies and paraded down the riverbank, a mere decoration for someone else’s pleasure. I am not a delicate ornament to be displayed and admired. I am wild and untamed, unapologetically myself.

I will not be bound by the constraints of society’s standards of beauty. I will not contort my body to fit into a corset or paint my face with false colors to please the eyes of others. I will not seek validation from anyone but myself.

You will not find me in the places where others expect me to be. You will not find me in the gilded cages of society’s expectations. You will find me at the corners of St. John Avenue, where I am free to be myself, unapologetically and unashamedly.

Copyright © Beatriz Esmer